Understanding Invisible Disabilities

If your inclusion strategy starts with “let us know if you need accommodations”—you’re already behind. Here’s why: Most autistic adults won’t disclose. We’ve been punished for being “different” too many times. We’ll just struggle quietly. Mask harder. Burn out. Quit. Universal Design fixes that. It means building workplaces that are usable by default—for all brains, bodies, and bandwidths. It’s not about adding ramps. It’s about removing friction. Here’s what Universal Design looks like for autistic professionals: • Quiet zones. Natural light. Sensory-aware layouts. • Clear expectations, written agendas, and flexible deadlines. • Remote-friendly policies baked into your culture—not case-by-case exceptions. • Communication norms that don’t assume everyone is a fast-talking extrovert. No diagnostic paperwork. No personal reveal. No begging for a workaround just to think clearly. Just systems that work—without needing to ask. And here’s the kicker: What supports autistic folks also helps everyone else. Less burnout. Fewer misunderstandings. More focus. Better retention. This isn’t “lowering the bar.” It’s building a better one. If this made you rethink how inclusion is designed—not just declared—♻️ please share it. I’m Megan Killion. I’ve generated $550M in B2B tech pipeline—and I’ve never lied to close a deal. 🔔 Follow me for more real talk on neurodiversity, ethical growth, and building systems that work for actual humans.

When I first started working in accessibility, it was hard to find resources about designing for neurodiversity. But that’s changed, and now there’s lots of great information available! All of us experience the internet (and the world) in different ways, and it’s really important to think about that range of experiences when we’re creating things. I’m sharing a few things today that will help you make things that work for people whose brains might not experience the internet the same way yours does. Resources and info: A web of anxiety: accessibility for people with anxiety and panic disorders by David Swallow (article) - https://lnkd.in/ehJv_P9E Designing content for people with dyscalculia or low numeracy by Jane McFadyen (podcast, 20 minutes, transcript available) - https://lnkd.in/e2e8ntpB Designing for cognitive accessibility: Where to begin by Glenda Sims (article) - https://lnkd.in/eZnNfjQq Designing for Neurodiversity by Treyce Meredith (video, 20 minutes) - https://lnkd.in/eFGvPDnC Dizzy Users Close Browsers: Balancing Creativity & Accessibility by Piccia Neri (video, 41 minutes) - https://lnkd.in/ekUVN677 My war on animation by s.e. smith (article) - https://lnkd.in/dFWGBMGm Neuroinclusive Content Design by Laurie Cameron-Back (video, 50 minutes, need to log in or register to access) - https://lnkd.in/evmht7CT And this huge (wonderful) list of cognitive accessibility resources from Stéphanie Walter - https://lnkd.in/eTC4Uv9i If you have a good resource for neurodiversity then please share it in the comments! (And thanks to Sonya L. for the conversation that led to this post!) #Accessibility #A11y #AccessibilityMatters #UserExperience #Neurodiversity #CognitiveAccessibility